There's a group of folks over at Principia Labs who have documented how to control servos via a python script: Arduino-Python 4-Axis Servo Control | Principia Labs
Their discussion of Ardunio's Serial.read() was especially helpful; it's prompted me to make some changes in my code.
Allen, thanks a bunch for the shout-out. Sounds like a very cool project you guys are undertaking, and I really like the open-source hardware/software angle. I think there’s a social meme underlying projects like this that has yet to be defined: people shunning pre-packaged, black-box, ready-made solutions and creating unexpected new technologies whose use and impact we don’t yet fully grasp. Best of luck!